I'm a huge fan of Child and Reacher (see my review of "Bad Luck and Trouble"). But this is the first time I've felt that Child has done anything other than outdo himself. Fans will like it fine, but it lacks the suspense-in-overdrive of most other books in the series. Still, even a subpar Reacher novel is better than most suspense novels.
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(3 of 6 readers found this comment helpful)
I thought this book was hilarious, and I've never seen a single episode of "Everybody Loves Raymond." It's a funny look at how writers transform their experiences into entertainment -- and yes, even art -- that touches the souls of performers and audience members. Rosenthal's personal experiences also illustrate the enormous role that luck and persistence play in "breaking in" to Hollywood. I suspect fans of the show will enjoy the book, too.
The most indispensable book about soul music. Guralnick argues for a distinct "Southern soul" sound, as distinguished from Motown or Chicago soul or other forms of "Northern soul," and traces its development from its twin roots in gospel song and Delta blues. He considers the giants of the soul tradition, from Ray Charles and Sam Cooke to Otis Redding and Aretha Franklin and Solomon Burke, as well as more obscure figures such as Doc Pomus, Spooner Oldham, and Joe Tex. He writes extensively about Stax Records, both the music and the company, and shows that the music's particular strength grew from a partnership between black and white musicians. For Guralnick, Stax in particular and Southern soul music in general represent the civil rights movement ideal of blacks and whites working together. Guralnick traces the decline of Stax to efforts to move the label towards a black-power position. While I wish Guralnick had done more to highlight the differences between Southern and Northern soul (in particular the jazz roots of Northern soul), this is still my favorite book about soul, because of Guralnick's astonishing portraits and the breadth of his canvas. One final word of warning: Guralnick writes about so many records and performers, in the narrative and in the extensive discography, that this book may lead you to spend hundreds of dollars on recorded music. Proceed with care... and delight.
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(4 of 6 readers found this comment helpful)
Rich Eisen is smart and witty, but so are a lot of his peers. What separates him from other sportscasters in the cable era is that he never slides into self-parody, and that serves him very well as he covers a league that is utterly humorless about itself. It's hard to imagine that there are things about the NFL that fans have never heard, but Eisen manages to find a bunch of them. Admittedly, most of them are about nuts and bolts of NFL business and broadcasting, but Eisen makes it all seem like breezy fun. This is a worthwhile book for casual and hardcore NFL fans alike.
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(6 of 9 readers found this comment helpful)
Don't come to this book expecting either high hilarity or Punichello-style mawkishness. Yes, it is funny sometimes and sad sometimes. But the strength of Martin's astonishing memoir is the simplicity, honesty, and directness of his revelations and insights about himself and his art. His comedy embodied absurdity, but he explains how it grew from a rigorous intelligence and discipline. He is a famously private person, but he reveals intimate details of his life with breathtaking candor. He explains his work and his creative process with clarity and discernment, but never degenerates into self-aggrandizement or navel-gazing. Like Martin himself, the book is impossible to classify, and it lingers with you long after it ends. Highly recommended.
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(21 of 35 readers found this comment helpful)
Read the original essay by Donald Worster and save 30% on A Passion for Nature: The Life of John Muir.
Dr. Rico has commented on (19) products.
Nothing to Lose: A Jack Reacher Novel (Jack Reacher Novels #12) by Lee Child
Dr. Rico, July 29, 2008
I'm a huge fan of Child and Reacher (see my review of "Bad Luck and Trouble"). But this is the first time I've felt that Child has done anything other than outdo himself. Fans will like it fine, but it lacks the suspense-in-overdrive of most other books in the series. Still, even a subpar Reacher novel is better than most suspense novels.(3 of 6 readers found this comment helpful)
You're Lucky You're Funny: How Life Becomes a Sitcom by Phil Rosenthal
Dr. Rico, July 29, 2008
I thought this book was hilarious, and I've never seen a single episode of "Everybody Loves Raymond." It's a funny look at how writers transform their experiences into entertainment -- and yes, even art -- that touches the souls of performers and audience members. Rosenthal's personal experiences also illustrate the enormous role that luck and persistence play in "breaking in" to Hollywood. I suspect fans of the show will enjoy the book, too.Sweet Soul Music: Rhythm and Blues and the Southern Dream of Freedom by Peter Guralnick
Dr. Rico, February 9, 2008
The most indispensable book about soul music. Guralnick argues for a distinct "Southern soul" sound, as distinguished from Motown or Chicago soul or other forms of "Northern soul," and traces its development from its twin roots in gospel song and Delta blues. He considers the giants of the soul tradition, from Ray Charles and Sam Cooke to Otis Redding and Aretha Franklin and Solomon Burke, as well as more obscure figures such as Doc Pomus, Spooner Oldham, and Joe Tex. He writes extensively about Stax Records, both the music and the company, and shows that the music's particular strength grew from a partnership between black and white musicians. For Guralnick, Stax in particular and Southern soul music in general represent the civil rights movement ideal of blacks and whites working together. Guralnick traces the decline of Stax to efforts to move the label towards a black-power position. While I wish Guralnick had done more to highlight the differences between Southern and Northern soul (in particular the jazz roots of Northern soul), this is still my favorite book about soul, because of Guralnick's astonishing portraits and the breadth of his canvas. One final word of warning: Guralnick writes about so many records and performers, in the narrative and in the extensive discography, that this book may lead you to spend hundreds of dollars on recorded music. Proceed with care... and delight.(4 of 6 readers found this comment helpful)
Total Access: A Journey to the Center of the NFL Universe by Rich Eisen
Dr. Rico, December 11, 2007
Rich Eisen is smart and witty, but so are a lot of his peers. What separates him from other sportscasters in the cable era is that he never slides into self-parody, and that serves him very well as he covers a league that is utterly humorless about itself. It's hard to imagine that there are things about the NFL that fans have never heard, but Eisen manages to find a bunch of them. Admittedly, most of them are about nuts and bolts of NFL business and broadcasting, but Eisen makes it all seem like breezy fun. This is a worthwhile book for casual and hardcore NFL fans alike.(6 of 9 readers found this comment helpful)
Born Standing Up: A Comic's Life by Steve Martin
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1-5 of 19 nextDr. Rico, December 11, 2007
Don't come to this book expecting either high hilarity or Punichello-style mawkishness. Yes, it is funny sometimes and sad sometimes. But the strength of Martin's astonishing memoir is the simplicity, honesty, and directness of his revelations and insights about himself and his art. His comedy embodied absurdity, but he explains how it grew from a rigorous intelligence and discipline. He is a famously private person, but he reveals intimate details of his life with breathtaking candor. He explains his work and his creative process with clarity and discernment, but never degenerates into self-aggrandizement or navel-gazing. Like Martin himself, the book is impossible to classify, and it lingers with you long after it ends. Highly recommended.(21 of 35 readers found this comment helpful)